Igmar Thomas’ Taps Talib Kweli For Revive Big Band’s ‘Thelonius’, Preps Debut Album For October 25thRelease
The new single contains a two-part suite, paying homage to J Dilla and Theolious Monk.
Listen here.
Artistic director, trumpeter, and composer Igmar Thomas was commissioned by SummerStage in 2016 for the Revive Big Band production A Journey Through The Legacy Of Black Culture. Taking place at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield in NYC on August 7, 2016, the performance took showgoers through the past and present of Black American music. In dedication to two giants within this musical continuum, a segment of the showfused Thelonious Monk‘s iconic Bebop standard “Thelonious” with the head-nodding Hip-Hop production of J Dilla‘s “Thelonius” instrumental from Common‘s classic album Like Water For Chocolate. Today (10/4/2024), this electrifying fusion of Jazz and Hip-Hop is released on all major digital streaming platforms via Soulspazm, featuring a guest verse from Talib Kweli and bookended by an explosive Big Band chorus.
“‘Thelonius’ demonstrates exactly how closely related Jazz and Hip-Hop are, and how they can once again easily evolve into one another. It brings together the best of two musical worlds… To take the energy even further, I composed an original final section of the song that explodes into a high-octane Hip-Hop Big Band shout chorus.” – Igmar Thomas
Stream/purchase “Thelonius”: https://bit.ly/4eTfxM1
“Thelonius” is from the forthcoming full-length debut by Igmar Thomas’ Revive Big Band, Like A Tree It Grows. Due out on all major DSPs on October 25th, the album will serve as a tribute to the life and legacy of Revive Music Group founder Megan Stabile, whose vision to bridge the gap between younger Hip-Hop audiences and traditional Jazz purists helped birth the Revive Big Band.
Pre-order/save Like A Tree It Grows: https://bit.ly/3BFoHx6
Tracklist:
- R&P
- Levels (Feat. Bilal, Igmar Thomas)
- Speak No Evil (Feat. Myron Walden)
- Words I Manifest (Feat. Raydar Ellis, Sean Jones)
- One Of A Kind (Feat. Ben Williams, Nicholas Payton)
- The Coming
- Infant Eyes (Feat. Jean Baylor, Marcus Strickland)
- Thelonious (Feat. Nicholas Payton)
- Thelonius (Feat. Talib Kweli)
- Lonius
- Mark’s Hope (Feat. Mark Whitfield)
- Fortress Of Hope (Feat. Mark Whitfield)
- Angst (Marcus Strickland, Igmar Thomas)
- To Kinda Lounge Around (Feat. Raydar Ellis, Terrace Martin, Nicholas Payton)
- Rrunnin’ Outa Time (Feat. Marc Cary, Igmar Thomas)
- Play It Back (Feat. Dr. Lonnie Smith, Cory Henry, Gregoire Maret)
Igmar Thomas and his Revive Big Band will be performing a free outdoor show at The Plaza at 300 Ashland to kickoff BRIC JazzFest’s 10th Anniversaryon Saturday, October 12 at 3PM.
MORE ABOUT REVIVE BIG BAND:
The Revive Big Band is an inventive 20+ piece big band that combines Jazz, Hip-Hop, Funk, Soul, Blues, and Gospel. Led and founded in 2010 by trumpeter, composer, arranger, and maestro Igmar Thomas, this multi-generational ensemble knows no limits in seeking to advance, celebrate and re-imagine sonic freedom. The band’s world-class cadre of musicians have consistently bridged the divides between art forms and include members such as trombonist Ku-umba Frank Lacy, critically acclaimed pianist Marc Cary, Thelonious Monk Competition winner and former member of Pat Metheny‘s Unity Band Ben Williams, Revive/Blue Note recording artist drummer Otis Brown III, saxophonist Marcus Strickland, and trumpeter Theo Croker.
Making its debut at George Wein’s CareFusion Jazz Festival, the Revive Big Band has since gone on to perform at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, the Apollo Theater, Blue Note Jazz Club, Central Park SummerStage, BRIC, DV Jazz Fest, Winter JazzFest, Art of Cool Festival amongst others. The band’s members have collectively garnered 27 Grammy nominations and 13 Grammy wins, and have performed alongside Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Sting, Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, J. Cole, Common, D’Angelo, Jill Scott, Dizzy Gillespie, Esperanza Spalding, Robert Glasper, Gregory Porter, Talib Kweli, Bilal, and Slick Rick.
The band’s rare live repertoire features original compositions and inventive orchestrations of Jazz standards and contemporary classics by artists ranging from Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard and Oliver Nelson to A Tribe Called Quest, J Dilla, Gangstarr, and more.
MORE ABOUT IGMAR THOMAS:
Bandleader, composer and arranger Igmar Thomas helps the Revive Big Band set the standard for innovation and excellence, merging tradition with groundbreaking creativity with his fluency in swing and knack for transmuting genres of the African diaspora. An alumnus of Berklee College of Music and former student of trumpeters Nicholas Payton and Roy Hargrove, Thomas’ role varies from sideman and section leader to bandleader and musical director on international tours for artists like Kamasi Washington, and Ms. Lauryn Hill. Thomas’ more recent role as Musical Director for legendary artists like LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Nas, The Fugees, and DJ D-Nice, has earned him the praise from hip-hop icons DJ Kool Herc, Slick Rick, and DJ Premier who likened Thomas’ musical directing talents to that of Teddy Riley and DeVante Swing. Thomas’ boundless creativity enables him to be a conduit for the harmonious synthesis of various genres, eras and styles. His approach to musicianship has empowered others to embrace the freedom inherent in rejecting purist notions and making music outside of the box.
Thomas’ original compositions and arrangements have been commissioned by Carnegie Hall and acquired by prestigious institutions such as NYO Jazz at Carnegie Hall, Purdue University, University of North Texas, Brown University, Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, Rutgers University, University of Denver, JazzMN Orchestra, University of Maryland, St. Augustine University, and his alma mater, Berklee College of Music.
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